Mop holder



July 24, 1934. c s 1,967,406

I MOB HOLDER Filed July 22, 1933 MOP HOLDER Everett P. Hicks, Chicago,111.

Application July 22, 1933, Serial No. 681,729

3 Claims.

This invention relates to that type of handled holders for cleaning mopsand the like in which a pair of opposed holding jaws, in pivotalengagement, are adapted to engage and effectively hold 5 a mop or thelike in a cleaning or scrubbing operation, and this improvement has forits object:

To provide a structural formation and combination of parts in the abovementioned type of holders, wherein a pair of holding jaws, formed =10 ofheavy sheet metal, are pivotally connected together in a simple andsubstantial manner, whereby independent lateral shift of one holding jawin relation to the other is prevented, all as will E hereinafter morefully appear.

.In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a mop holder, embodying the preferredform of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. N Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailsection of the pivotal 80 connection between the holding jaws of themop. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the operating arm, on line 44 Fig. 2.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

As usual in the present type of mop holders, the handle 1 is of anelongated form with its lower end attached to the sleeve 2 of the mainor fixed jaw 3 on which the companion movable jaw 4 is pivotally mountedby means hereinafter described.

The main jaw 3 and movable jaw 4 are preferably of the spade form shownwith the lower and free end bent towards each other to provide effectiveholding flanges for engagement with a mop,

l sponge or like article used as a scrubbing or cleaning element. Inthis improvement the body of the main jaw 3 is formed with alongitudinal and centrally arranged opening 5 a distance removed fromthe lower end of the jaw, with the upper end of said opening formed withside openings 6, the upper margins of which are formed with roundedreturn bends '7 adapted to provide rounded bearings for such margins intheir pivotal engagement with the side margins of the movable jaw 4 Tand the special formation of such margins hereinafter described.

The movable jaw 4 is formed with a centrally arranged operating arm 8,which in the improvement is of an approximately T shape in crosssection, the central web or member 8' of which being formed by a returnfold in the sheet metal of the arm with said fold ending in side webs orflanges 10 as shown. Midway the length of the operating arm 8, the sideflanges 10 thereof are deformed to 55 provide rounded pivot recesses 9to provide bearings for the heretofore described rounded return bends '7of the fixed holding jaw 3 of the holder.

With the described construction the central web or flange 8 of theoperating arm 8 of the movable holding jaw is of a thicknesscorresponding with the width of the main portion of the opening or slot5 of the fixed holding jaw 3, and is adapted to have the requisiterocking movement therein and at the same time be effectively held fromindependent lateral shift in relation to the fixed holding jaw of theappliance.

In the construction shown the means for imparting movement to themovable jaw 4 and for effectively holding the jaw in both its open andin its closed condition comprises as follows:

A coiled spring 11 arranged to encircle and have movement on the lowerend of the handle 1, with the lower end of the spring attached in fixedrelation to the handle 1 preferably by engagement in a holding eye 12 onthe attaching w sleeve 2 of the main jaw 3. The other end of the spring11 is out turned to form a pivot pintle 13 adapted for operativeengagement in a pivot eye formed in the lower end of an operating levernow to be described.

The operating lever 14 above referred to, and with its lower end-in theabove mentioned pivotal engagement with the spring 11, extends upwardlyfrom such point of pivotal connection and intermediate its length isprovided with a pair of lateral side extensions 15 formed at their freeends with pivot orifices for engagement with one end of a connectinglink 16 of the loop form shown. The other end of said link beingpivotally connected with the free end of the operating arm of themovable jaw 4. With the described arrangement of parts, as the operatinglever 14 is swung in one direction or the other to carry the pivotconnection of the link 16 with the lateral extensions of said lever to apoint past the pivotal connection of said lever with the upper end ofthe spring 11, the resilient stress of the spring will be brought intoaction to force the movable jaw 4 into a fully opened position in onecase, and in the other case to force and hold said movable jaw into aclosed and mop holding position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, is:-

1. In a mop holder, the combination of a handle, a holding jaw fixed onone end of the handle, and formed with a central and longitudinal slot adistance from its free end, with said slot having lateral extensions atits upper end, a movable holding jaw provided with an operating arm of ii-r 9 deformed to provide pivot recesses for engagement with the upperedges of the lateral slots or extensions in the fixed holding jaw.

3. A mop holder as specified in claim 1, and wherein the side flangesoi. the operating arm are deformed to provide pivot recesses forengagement with the upper edges of the lateral slots or extensions inthe fixed holding jaw, said upper edges being of a return bend formationto attain rounded bearing of the same.

EVERETT P. HICKS.

